In most cases I would agree but right now I am seeing actual shortages. In just web development, it seems like this year every single company decided is the time to expand. And when every company decided to expand at the same time, there is a shortage of workers to fill those roles since you can't just pull senior developers from thin air or unis.
I was making a comfortable wage previously but this year most of my coworkers have left for other jobs and I'm on the way out too since the current job listings are close to double what I make currently. An eye watering amount of money is on the table right now.
But paying more is a zero sum game. To gain developers you have to be draining them from some other company and it will take years for new supply to come in.
It is a shortage because there are more open positions for senior developers than there are senior developers here.
Paying more won't bring senior developers out of the void because there do not exist enough to fill all positions. If all companies expand at the same time they can not possibly all fill their positions no matter what they pay.
I'm talking about the whole of Australia right now (remote but country based). I can see job listings have all exploded in listed salary and every company I talk to is looking to expand.
It's virtually impossible to move the other way right now due to covid. So there can be a genuine shortage as it is not possible to pay to pull people from other countries.
I was making a comfortable wage previously but this year most of my coworkers have left for other jobs and I'm on the way out too since the current job listings are close to double what I make currently. An eye watering amount of money is on the table right now.
But paying more is a zero sum game. To gain developers you have to be draining them from some other company and it will take years for new supply to come in.